Prayer vigil held for teen who died in crash

Mar. 19, 2013

Written by

Cliff Sain and Steve Pokin

Hundreds gathered at a prayer vigil Tuesday for a Republic High School student who died in a Monday night car wreck.

Garrett Blotter, a 16-year-old sophomore at Republic High School, died Monday night in a one-car crash near Miller Park in Republic. His passenger, a fellow student, was critically injured.

Desmond Roy, also a 16-year-old sophomore at the high school, was in critical but stable condition Tuesday, according to Josey McPhail, a spokeswoman for the high school.

Tuesday’s vigil was just one of several times friends pulled together to remember Blotter.

“It’s been tough,” said friend and football teammate Blake Fanning. “But we’re getting through it together.”

Another teammate, Jake Smith, was impressed by the town’s reaction.

“It’s amazing how one person can bring a whole school, a whole community, together,” he said. “It shows you what kind of guy he was.”

McPhail said teams of counselors were at the high school Tuesday to talk to students who wished to do so.

Dan Updegrave, a youth pastor in Republic, said several pastors in the community were also offering support for students dealing with the loss of a classmate.

“(The students) just can’t believe it,” he said. “They can’t believe something like this could happen.”

Sgt. Jason Pace, of the Missouri Highway Patrol, said the crash is still under investigation, but he said a preliminary investigation indicates the car was exceeding the speed limit, which is 30 miles per hour on the narrow, hilly road in southeast Republic.

Both teens played football at the high school. The death occurred two days after the Tigers won the state title in boys basketball and one day after a community celebration of that victory.

“This is completely heartbreaking for our community,” McPhail said. “But if that celebration does not show it, I don’t know what does. We have the ability to pull together, whether it be good or bad. We will get through this together. We are a tight-knit community. We are very lucky.”

The school district released a press release Tuesday that said, in part: “Counselors are available to assist grieving students and staff throughout the day. It is our priority to provide our students and staff with the resources necessary to get through this sad situation. As a school community we extend our heartfelt sympathy to these families as they work through this personal tragedy.”

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Blotter is the stepson of Joey Fletcher, a Greene County sheriff’s deputy.

Robert Stephenson is the lead pastor at Graceway Baptist Church in Republic, where Roy is a member of the youth group.

“Desmond is a faithful member of the youth group,” Stephenson said. “Everyone likes him. He comes from a wonderful family. He does well in school and is a great young man.”

Leslie Forbis, whose husband coached the boys in football and track, said the scene at the school Tuesday morning was unusual.

“When I drove up to the school, the first thing I noticed was that it was eerily quiet,” she said. “There’s usually some sort of hubbub, but it was just eerie.”

Annette Jester said her son, Zach Jester, was a very close friend of Blotter. She said he wore Blotter’s football jersey at school Tuesday.

“Garrett didn’t get a letter for football because they ran out,” Annette Jester said. “So Zach took his freshman letter and gave it to Garrett’s mom today.”

Blotter was pronounced dead at the scene and Roy was airlifted to Cox South Hospital in Springfield.

The two teens were in a car that was westbound in the 1500 block of east Miller Road at 7:29 p.m. when the car went off the road and hit a tree. Police said the hill the two were on is a popular one to speed down. The speed limit is 30 mph.

Both teens were wearing their seat belt, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which police called in to help determine exactly what happened.

It is legal for a 16-year-old with a license to drive with only one passenger in the vehicle under the age of 19, provided it is not between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. During those hours the driver may only drive to and from a job or school, unless accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older.

Maj. Vernon Watson of the Republic Police Department said wrecks are not especially common on the road, but he said police catch a lot of speeders on it.

“I think because it’s away from the residences of town, a lot of people drive faster than the speed limit,” he said. “We make a lot of stops of 40 or 50 miles per hour.”

The road has several small hills and narrows to one lane for segment. Watson confirmed that the wreck occurred in the city limits.

Forbis, who lives on Miller Road, said she hasn’t noticed many wrecks on the road, but does believe people drive too fast.

“With the condition and the pitch of the road, it’s just dangerous,” she said.

Funds for teens

According to the school district, a memorial fund has been created for the family of Garrett Blotter and a benefit account has been set up for Desmond Roy to assist with medical costs. Donations can be made by stopping by the Republic branch of Mid-Missouri Bank, 806 E. Hines St., Republic. Questions can be directed to the bank by calling 417-732-4800. There is also a Facebook page regarding the funds.